Bud Fisher dies at 83

Former reporter, sports publicist `Bud' Fisher dies
Hall of Famer credited with idea for the annual Acme-Zip football game

By E.A. ``Bud'' Fisher

INDIANAPOLIS - Editor's note: Elder Ayres ``Bud'' Fisher, a former Beacon Journal reporter who served as a publicist for the Professional Bowlers Association for 30 years, died Friday in Indianapolis at age 83.

Mary Fisher, his wife of 29 years, sent the Beacon Journal an obituary that Fisher himself first wrote in 2000. Fisher had given an earlier version to the Beacon Journal that was placed in the newspaper's library.

Explaining his reasons for writing his own death notice, Fisher said: ``Hello, Guys. I was bored, so I decided to write my own obit. When you receive it from my wife, you can be sure I'm dead. You can chop it up any way you want, but I thought I would have some fun doing it. It's been a great life!

``Have a good one

``Fisher''

The following is the updated version of Fisher's obituary:

Former Beacon Journal sports and police reporter turned sports publicist and sponsor, E.A. ``Bud'' Fisher, died Friday at the age of 83 after a lengthy illness. Fisher retired in 1990 after serving as the Akron-based Professional Bowlers Association public relations director, winding up 30 years on the job.

Fisher went to work for the Beacon Journal when he was a high school senior at North in 1940. After service in World War II, he returned to Akron, where he rejoined the Beacon Journal sports department while attending Kent State University. In the next two decades, he worked on auto racing at the Rubber Bowl, horse racing at Ascot Park, Thistledown, Randall and Cranwood, hockey in Akron, publicity for the National Industrial Basketball League, hydroplane racing, and as publicist and sponsor for the Cleveland Browns' annual preseason game at the Rubber Bowl from 1946 to 1960.

He then joined the fledgling PBA being organized by the late Akron businessman Eddie Elias.

Fisher was ring announcer for Akron Boxing, for the Gold Gloves and professional boxing and wrestling, and once manned the public address system for the Akron and International Soap Box Derby events, and was wrestling commissioner.

One of Fisher's contributions was coming up with the idea for the Acme-Zip football game. He passed the idea along to the late Red Cochrane, who turned the game into an annual spectacle.

Fisher had a colorful career as a Beacon Journal police reporter. In 1951, he walked in on a holdup at the notorious Duffy's gambling club in the Portage Lakes area. Cleveland hoodlums made off with thousands of dollars but the sheriff's office never charged anyone. Fisher also engaged in a futile struggle to prevent a man from jumping off the old high-level bridge between Akron and Cuyahoga Falls. He also was shot at on East Market Street.

He was a member of the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame, the Akron Radio Hall of Fame and the PBA Hall of Fame, and received the Bowling Writers Association of America Mort Luby Lifetime Service Award. He was one of three Americans to win the World Bowling Writers' Golden Quill Award.

He is survived by wife, Mary Fisher; daughters Lise Russell of Kent and Laura Marco of Mogadore; and grandchildren, Bill Russell and Dan Russell. Also surviving is sister Betty Pivar of Akron.

Mary Fisher said Monday that her husband was cremated and interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the Bowling Writers Association of America Scholarship Fund, c/o Steve James, 8501 N. Manor Lane, Fox Point, WI 53217, or St. Vincent Hospice, 8450 Payne Road, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46268.
[Akron Beacon Journal, Akron, OH, Wednesday, December 14, 2005, page B5, col.. 3]